Karate Training Tip (and story)

From the Desk of Master Sarac

To my students:

Karate Training was never meant to be too easy. Real schools understand that your karate lessons must mimic life in order for you to be successful.

I have read all your comments that you've placed in this website on tips for passing your Black Belt Test and becoming a Black belt. I am truly amazed at the growth in which you all have shown me over the years of karate training.

I have seen babies become well mannered children,

I have seen teens flourished into disciplined adults and

I have seen adults change their lives and become more confident, understanding, and have more control over their feelings and stress in life

The messages you have given to upcoming black belts include:

working harder, average isn't good enough

coming to extra classes, improve where you are weak

build your endurance, tireless efforts prevail

practice your weapon katas more,

and never, ever giving up.

I would like to share a story with all of you that helped me in my growth into becoming a Black belt, In sticking with our style Song Moo Kwan (Tae Kwon Do) until I became a Master, and in my opening of multiple schools.

The lesson is about shaking it off and stepping up to your problems, no matter how down you are and when you think life as you know it is over and there’s no hope or light at the end of the tunnel. You must quit crying and moaning and feeling sorry for yourself and find your way of climbing to the top...

if there is a cold then there must be a hot

and if there’s a bottom then there must be a top.

I wish I could remember who wrote this story but nevertheless I give my Black belt dedication to him/her for helping me step up and shake off my problems…(and we all will face problems)

Here is the story….

Shake it Off and Step Up

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. For hours, the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.

With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something incredible. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and step up. Pretty soon, everyone was speechless as the donkey stepped up over the well and trotted off!

The Moral of the Story

Life is going to shovel dirt on you - all kinds of dirt from pain to anger to the feeling of wanting to give up.

The trick to getting out of the well (or the feeling of giving up) is to shake it off and take a step up.Each of our troubles is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, and never giving up!